He looked at her fondly, but shook his head. "I am afraid I cannot do that, Milly," he said; "I should be in everybody's way, and—"
But at this point he was interrupted by his cousin, and his determination not to leave his home was so fiercely and successfully combated, that he at length promised to think the matter over.
After the major had left them, Milly commenced the attack. "You will come with us, won't you?" she said, coaxingly. "I said I couldn't go without you; but papa could make me, you know, and I don't know what I should do without you."
"Would you miss me very much, Milly?" said the doctor, gently stroking the fair curls.
"Miss you! O, I don't think I could ever love my own papa and mamma if you did not love me still."
And as the doctor sat down in the summer-house, Milly threw her arms about his neck, and kissed him fondly.
Meanwhile Major Ferrers had gone in to tell his wife the result.
"I think we shall bring the doctor round," he said, gleefully rubbing his hands as he told her what had passed in the garden.
"I don't think there's so much to be glad about," said the lady, a little discontentedly. "In fact, I thought at first that such a plan would not do at all."
"Why not?" asked her husband, in some surprise.